Comments on: Spindle Success!

By: Connie

Connie — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 16:24:02 +0000

I love the colored stains and satin finish would be my choice. I’ve only used top whorls and I think the WPI tool is a great idea (although I don’t really have and idea which end it should on). Your spindles are beautiful!

By: Nikki

Nikki — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 22:26:35 +0000

I’m not knowledgeable enough about spindles to help with the sizes or the WPI tool, but I like the colored stains, a satin finish and both top and bottom whorls.

By: Allena

Allena — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:59:31 +0000

When you guys talk about the singles holding on, do you mean when you initially wrap the leader on, or do you mean on the part that holds the hook? I didn’t think of that, they do slide off onto the hook but it doesn’t seem to affect the spinning. I’ll try roughing those places up and see if that helps.

By: Gwen in Bowmanville

Gwen in Bowmanville — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:01:55 +0000

Hi there. I’m coming out of the woodwork (G) to add my two cents. Those spindles are very pretty. And I wouldn’t get too concerned about the drop-em-til-they-die testing. Yes, they are called DROP spindles, but most of us cringe at the sound of a spindle hitting the ground from a couple of feet onto a carpet, never mind ten feet onto concrete!

So, you had some questions, I believe?

WPI — close to the business end (I’m a top whorl girl myself, but bottom whorl has its uses) If it’s close to where the singles or plies are coming together, then I know I’d pay more attention and actually use it regularly.

Satin or High Gloss Finish — I bet high-gloss shows off the colours better. How well does the single hold on? If it’s grippy enough, I’d go with shiny! (My husband calls me a crow, cuz I get distracted by sparkly things.)

Top or Bottom Whorl — Well, as I said up above, there’s room for both in the world.

Cheers from the Greater Toronto Area!

By: Em

Em — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 16:39:26 +0000

Some answers…

WPI on the bottom or top?
I’d say on bottom for low-whorl, on top for high-whorl. That way, the spindles don’t cover up the WIP tool, and the conscientious spinner can check his/her WIPs during the spinning to check for consistency! (Why didn’t i think of this before?)

High gloss or satin finish?
I’d go with satin finish, at least for top-whorls: just a little bit more ‘grippy’ to help singles from sliding off.

Top or bottom whorl?
Both!!

By: Saralyn

Saralyn — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:25:24 +0000

I would be looking for a top-whorl spindle (I’m self-taught from Priscilla Gibson-Roberts’ book), and I think a satin finish is nice. Mind you, I’m getting ready for a move and up to my eyeballs in deadline knitting at the moment, so I won’t be ordering a spindle until at least January, but I wanted to put in my two cents. I think I’d like the WPI tool on the top of the top-whorl spindle so that it doesn’t get covered up by the wound-on singles when I’m spinning. Also, I especially like cool reds, red-violets, and purples.

By: Kate A.

Kate A. — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 14:49:36 +0000

As a recent convert to supported spindling (they’re what finally made it possible for me to spin…can’t do drop spindles, no-how), I advocate strongly for bottom-whorls. You’ve already got beauteous points on the bottom of the shaft, and with a bottom whorl they’d adapt wonderfully to supported spinning. And I love the colored stains…